Wrench



5. VAN HEW,

WRENCH;

APPLICATION FILED 050.15, 192:.

gg g 1 g Patented Sept. 19, 1922.,

Patented Sept. 19, was.

STATES JOHN VAN HORN. OF SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA.-

WRENCH.

Application filed December 15, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN Van Heart, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco. in the county ofSan Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l Vrench and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tidn of the invention. such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a wrench.

One important object is to provide wrench of the type generally known as a pipe wrench and operating substantially according to the Stillson principle. which more durable than such a wrench and which employs fewer and more substantial parts.

The invention further aims to provide a novel and improved construction whereby such a wrench may better engage, grip, and release the object; one which may be used to better advantage where the operating space is restricted; one which may one hand; and one which is extremely simple and durable in operation and inexpensive to manufacture and one of the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in accompanying drawing.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 8 is a rear elevation;

Figure 4 is a cenrtal vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the spring employed.

Like reference characters designate like or similar parts in the different views.

In reducing the invention to practice, a shank is provided at 10, preferably having a handle 11 at one end and a fixed jaw 12 at the other end. Said shank 10 is provided with screw threads at 13.

Movable along the screw threads 13 is a nut 14, preferably cylindrical with its outer surface serrated or otherwise roughened as at 15 to facilitate gripping and which nut is provided with an annular groove adjacent the outer end as at 16. A follower is provided at 17 which has a flange at 18 overlapping the nut 14 and which terminates in an inwardly extended rib 19 disposed in the groove 16 whereby rotation of the nut will impart sliding movement to the follower. As will be seen from the drawings,

be adjusted by.

Serial No. 522,613.

opposite sides of the shank 10 are flattened as at 20 and the opening through the follower conforms substantially to the cross sectional area of the shank in order to prevent turning movement of the follower on the shank. The movable jaw of the wrench is shown at 21 and it has an enlarged openor bore 22 which receives the shank 10. Projecting forwardly from the lower end of the jaw 21 is a lug 23, which extends loosely into an opening 24 provided in a stud 25 integral with and rising from the follower l7. The fit between the lug 23 and the opening 24 is relatively loose so that the movable jaw may fulcrum from the lug 23.

Surrounding the shank 10 is a spring 26 substantially of ring formation, which is interposed between the space of the movable jaw 21 and the adjacent wall of the follower 17 and which preferably has a tongue 26 disposed in openings 24 and over lapping the outer end of lug 23. This spring is transversely deflected or cambered as shown at 27 in order to normally urge the jaw 21 into the inclined position shown relative to the fixed jaw.

The work faces of the jaws 12 and 21 are preferably toothed as at 28 to increase the effectiveness of their grip It will be apparent that the wrench will function efficiently without the spring and that the same may therefore be omitted when desired.

Sliding movement is imparted to the movable jaw in both directions through movement of the nut 14. Such movement of nut 14; due to the engagement of rib 19 in the groove 16 imparts sliding movement to the follower 17 which accordingly slides the movable jaw. The pipes or other works may be received intermediate the jaws as usual, with the tension of the spring urging the movable jaw into an inclined position as shown. Such jaw however, functions substantially as in a Stillson wrench and accordingly may fulcrum from the lug 23 to increase the effectiveness of the grip on the pipe or other work.

As merely one practical embodiment has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A wrench having jaws, a shank extending from one of said jaws, a nut operable. on said shank, a follower slidable on said shank and movable with said nut, one of said jaws fulcrumed on said follower, and a spring interposed between said last mentioned jaw and said follower to normally urge the last mentioned jaw into an inclined position.

2. A wrench having a fixed jaw, ashank extending from said fixed jaw, a nut operainto said opening, a spring surrounding said shank disposed intermediate said jaw and said follower, said spring being substantially cambered to urge the second mentioned jaw into an inclined position, and said spring having'a flange overlapping said 111g.

3. A wrench having jaws, one of said jaws carrying a shank, a nut movable on said shank, a follower to be moved by said nut, one of said jaws being pivoted to said follower and being movable on said shank, and a spring element surrounding the shank positioned between said last mentioned jaw and said follower whereby said jaw normally assumes an inclined position.

I (L. A wrench'having jaws, a shank extending from one of said jaws, a nut movable on said shank, a follower movable with said nut, one of said jaws being movable on the shank and having an enlarged opening through which the shank extends, pivotal means connecting the jaw last named to the follower, and a spring element positioned between the last named jaw and the follower whereby the jaw normally assumes an inclined position. i

Intestiinony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. e

JOHN VAN HORN.

Witnesses: j

, CONSTANTINE CHARLETON,

/ J. W. STANTON. 

